In:
Canadian Journal of Botany, Canadian Science Publishing, Vol. 70, No. 5 ( 1992-05-01), p. 1061-1070
Abstract:
Decomposition of Bauhinia purpurea L. leaves in litter bags submerged in the Tai Po Kau Forest Stream (TPKFS) and the Lam Tsuen River (LTR) was investigated during the winter of 1988 and the summer of 1989. At every collection, temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and biological oxygen demand (BOD 5 ) were measured. In winter, the organically enriched LTR was categorized as polluted based on BOD 5 , turbidity, and heterotrophic bacteria counts, whereas the TPKFS was always relatively clean. Weight loss of leaf litter at both sites was very rapid when compared with published values and exhibited a distinct seasonal pattern. The decomposition rate of leaf litter (using the single exponential decay model) varied linearly with mean water temperature. Carbon content of the leaf litter decreased during decomposition and was, as expected, negatively correlated with the percent ash content. Except in the first 2 weeks, the nitrogen content of decomposing leaf litter decreased with time at a rate correlated with the abundance of heterotrophic bacteria in winter leaf litter (insufficient data were available in summer). Based on the results of the winter study only, the decomposition of leaf litter seems to be suppressed in the polluted river. Key words: decomposition, carbon, nitrogen, water pollution, heterotrophic bacteria.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0008-4026
Language:
English
Publisher:
Canadian Science Publishing
Publication Date:
1992
detail.hit.zdb_id:
218116-2
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1481926-0
SSG:
12
